A Bag

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a bag. More particularly, the invention relates to a sling-type wearable bag having a waterproof pocket (12) for receiving a heat source, (i.e. a hot water bottle) therein, and a hand-warming pocket (30) located therein between the waterproof pocket and a layer (20, 22) of heat reflecting and/or insulating material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a bag. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a sling-type wearable bag having a waterproof pocket forreceiving a heat source, (i.e. a hot water bottle) therein, and ahand-warming pocket located therein between the waterproof pocket and alayer of heat reflecting and/or insulating material.

Bags or holders for containing hot water bottles or heat pads are wellknown. Many such holders are nothing more than a soft-touch coveringthat are neither waterproof nor insulated. As a result, these holdersare incapable of retaining heat for extended periods, generally have nomeans of securing them in contact with the body of a user other than byclutching and dangerous where the hot water bottle leaks or ruptures.

Patent document no. U.S. Pat. No. 1,927,751 discloses a hot water bottleholder that includes a strap for holding the holder against the body ofa user and, has certain waterproof characteristics. This patent does nothowever disclose a hand-warming pocket.

Patent document no. CN 2413668 discloses a hot water bottle constructedin a tubular form, having openings at either end for receiving a user'shands therein, as well as a strap for retaining the hot water bottle onthe body of the user. With this device being purpose built, it is notsuited for use with existing hot water bottles that people may havealready pre-purchased.

It is an object of the present invention to address the shortcomings ofthe prior art devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a bag including:

-   -   a primary pocket for receiving a heat source therein, the        primary pocket being formed by first and second layers of water        impermeable material connected to one another along at least a        portion of their respective edges thereby to define, along an        unconnected portion of the edges, a primary access opening for        accessing an interior of the primary pocket;    -   at least a first layer of heat reflecting and/or insulating        material lying substantially over the first water impermeable        layer of the primary pocket for: (i) operatively reflecting heat        radiating from the primary pocket back towards it; and (ii)        operatively slowing heat loss from the primary pocket; and    -   a secondary pocket for receiving a user's hands or other object        therein, the secondary pocket being located between the first        water impermeable layer and the first heat reflecting and/or        insulting layer.

The bag may also include a second layer of heat reflecting and/orinsulating material lying substantially over the second waterimpermeable layer of the primary pocket such that the first and secondheat reflecting and/or insulting layers jointly envelope the primarypocket therein.

Furthermore, the bag generally includes a first outer layer lyingsubstantially over the first heat reflecting and/or insulting layers,and a second outer layer lying substantially over the second heatreflecting and/or insulting layers such that the first and second outerlayers jointly envelope the first and second heat reflecting and/orinsulting layers.

Typically, the edges of the first and second water impermeable layersare connected to one another along a fold line, and/or by welding suchedges to one another. Preferably, the weld is effected using an impulseheat welder, more preferably a constant heat-sealing machine. Mostpreferably, the width of the weld is between about 12 millimetres and 19millimetres.

Generally, the connected edges of the first and second water impermeablelayers are stitched prior to being welded.

Typically, edges of the first and second heat reflecting and/orinsulting layers are connected to one another along at least a portionof their respective edges thereby to form a heat reflecting and/orinsulating pouch for receiving the primary pocket therein.

Furthermore, the heat reflecting and/or insulating pouch may definealong unconnected edges of the first and second heat reflecting and/orinsulting layers a secondary access opening substantially coincidingwith the primary access opening of the primary pocket.

Preferably, the primary pocket and the heat reflecting and/or insulatingpouch are connected to one another at least near their respectiveprimary and secondary access openings such that the primary andsecondary access openings jointly form a single common access openinginto the primary pocket.

The edges of the first and second outer layers are generally connectedalong the connected edges of the heat reflecting and/or insulatingpouch.

Typically, the connected edges of the heat reflecting and/or insulatingpouch, and the connected edges of the first and second outer layers, areconnected along a fold line and/or by stitching such edges to oneanother.

Preferably, fastener(s) extend along, or are spaced along, each of theunconnected edges of the common access opening for enabling the commonaccess opening to be opened and closed.

More preferably, the fasteners are a water-resistant zip, and furtherwherein the common access opening is located near a first end of thebag, with the second pocket being located nearer an opposing second endof the bag than to the first end thereof. Most preferably, the zipcomprises a pair of zip sliders operable across its length.

The bag may comprise first and second opposing sides extending betweenthe opposing first and second ends, and further wherein the first and/orthe second opposing sides define a tertiary access openings into the oneor more second pockets.

Generally, the second pocket is made up of a sleeve extending betweeneach of pair of the tertiary access openings defined on each of thefirst and the second opposing sides of the bag.

Typically, the bag comprises an adjustable strap for securing the bag tothe body of a user such that the first or the second outer layeroperatively lies in contact with the body of the user.

Preferably, the adjustable strap comprises opposing first and secondends, the first end of the strap extending from the first end of thebag, with the second end of the strap extending from one of the first orthe second opposing sides of the bag at a location there along nearerthe second end of the bag such that the bag is wearable by the user as asling bag.

Generally, the bag includes a tertiary pocket located on the strap neara first end thereof, the strap defining a quaternary access opening intothe tertiary pocket, with quaternary access opening having zip fastenerslocated unconnected edges thereof for opening and closing the quaternaryaccess opening.

Preferably, the tertiary pocket is made from water impermeable materialand the zip thereof is water-resistant. More preferably, an adjustmentbuckle on the adjustable strap overlies a portion of such adjustablestrap such that the bag is comfortable to wear without the bucklepressing into the body of the user.

The bag may also include a secondary strap for further securing the bagto the body of the user, the secondary strap having: (i) a first endextending from the side of the bag from which the second end of theadjustable strap extends; and (ii) a second end extending from the sideof the bag opposite the side from which the second end of the adjustablestrap extends.

Typically, the heat source is from a group of heat sources includingchemically or electromagnetically activated heat pads or packs,chemically or electromagnetically activated heat bags and hot waterbottles.

Preferably, the first and second water impermeable layers are made froma waterproof, breathable polyurethane laminated fabric with a thicknessof about 2 millimetres. Accordingly, in the event of a water bottlerupture, water is incapable of escaping from the primary pocket.

More preferably, the first and second heat reflecting and/or insultinglayers are made from a breathable polyester based fabric, the polyesterfibres thereof being needle punched through a non-woven substrate andthrough a reflective metalized poly film.

Most preferably, the polyester based fabric is laminated on both sideswith a material restricting migration of polyester fibres outwardlytowards the first and the second outer layers.

Generally, the first and the second outer layers are made from a softtouch, pliable material. The first and the second outer layers mayfurther be made from a water-resistant and/or windproof material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The container will now be described in more detail, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag in accordance with the presentinvention, illustrated in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective side view of the bag of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1 with a primary pocketthereof exploded from the bag;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1, illustrated in anopen condition with a hot water bottle being inserted into the primarypocket thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bag of FIG. 1 illustrated in an operativecondition on the body of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A bag according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is designatedgenerally in the accompanying figures by reference numeral 10. Withspecific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag 10 includes a primarypocket 12 for receiving a heat source such as a hot water bottle 100therein, at least a first layer of heat reflecting and/or insulatingmaterial 20 and a second pocket 30 (single or two or more individualpockets) for receiving a user's hands 200 therein.

Although the primary function of the second pocket 30 is for keeping thehands 200 of a user warm, it will be appreciated that other objects suchas an infant's nursing bottle may be located therein to be kept warm.

With reference specifically to FIG. 2 the primary pocket 12 is formed byfirst and second layers 14, 16 of water impermeable material, connectedto one another along certain portions of their respective connectededges 14A, 16A and unconnected from one another along certain portionsof their respective unconnected edges 14B, 16B. It will be appreciatedthat the unconnected edges 14B, 16B define a primary access opening 18for accessing an interior of the primary pocket 12.

The edges of the first and second water impermeable layers 14A, 16A maybe connected in many different ways, but typically by a welding orheat-sealing process, and preferably post stitching such edges 14A, 16Ato one another. During testing, it was found that the needle holesarising from the stitching process are sealed during the welding processand that a weld of between 12 and 19 millimetres provides a sufficientlystrong and waterproof seam.

Although the bag 10 may be constructed with the first heat reflectingand/or insulating layer 20 on a first side of the primary pocket 12, itis preferably that the bag 10 further includes a second heat reflectingand/or insulating layer 22 located on a second side of the primarypocket 12.

On construction of the bag 10, the first and second heat reflectingand/or insulating layers 20,22 lie substantially over the respectivefirst and second water impermeable layers 14, 16 thereby to sandwich thesecond pocket 30, typically in the form of a hand-warming sleeve,between the primary pocket 12 and the first heat reflecting and/orinsulating layer 20.

It will be appreciated that although the second pocket 30 has beenillustrated as lying between the primary pocket 12 and the first heatreflecting and/or insulating layers 20, it may alternatively lie betweenthe primary pocket 12 and the second heat reflecting and/or insulatinglayer 22.

In the constructed bag 10, the first and the second heat reflectingand/or insulating layers 20, 22 jointly envelope the primary pocket 12so as to operatively insulate the bag 10 from rapid heat loss andoperatively reflect heat radiating outwardly from the primary pocket 12back towards it.

With reference now also to FIG. 3, and during construction of the bag10, the edges 20A, 22A of the first and second heat reflecting and/orinsulting layers 20, 22 are connected to one another along at leastportions thereof, preferably via stitching, to form a heat reflectingand/or insulating pouch 24 for receiving the primary pocket 12 therein.

Unconnected edges 20B, 22B of the heat reflecting and/or insulatinglayers define a secondary access opening 26 which, on insertion of theprimary pocket 12 into the heat reflecting and/or insulating pouch 24,substantially coincides with the primary access opening 18 of theprimary pocket 12 thereby to form a single common access opening. Withthe primary pocket 12 inserted into the heat reflecting and/orinsulating pouch 24, the unconnected edges 14B of the first waterimpermeable layer 14 are connected to the unconnected edges 20B of thefirst heat reflecting and/or insulating layer 20. Similarly, theunconnected edges 16B of the second water impermeable layer 16 areconnected to the unconnected edges 22B of the second heat reflectingand/or insulating layer 22.

The bag 10 also includes first and second outer layers 40, 42 lying, ina constructed form, over the respective first and second heat reflectingand/or insulting layers 20, 22 such that the edges 40A, 40B; 42A, 42B ofthe first and second outer layers 40, 42 are connected (preferably bystitching) to the respective edges 20A, 20B; 22A, 22B of the first andsecond heat reflecting and/or insulting layers 20, 22.

In this manner, the first and second outer layers 40, 42 jointlyenvelope the first and second heat reflecting and/or insulting layers20, 22, and consequentially envelope primary pocket 12 received withinthe heat reflecting and/or insulating pouch 24 formed by the first andsecond heat reflecting and/or insulting layers 20, 22.

A fastener 44 in the form of a zip is stitched into the bag 10,preferably along the edges 40B, 42B of the first and second outer layers40, 42, such that the common access opening (formed jointly by theprimary and the secondary access openings 18, 26) may be opened and/orclosed as required.

Although the fastener 44 may be of many different configurations (suchas clips, press-studs, hook and loop fastenings, etc.) it is preferablythat the fastener is a water-resistant zip. In this manner, and in theevent of a rupturing of the hot water bottle 100, the hot water iscontainable within the waterproof primary pocket 12 thereby preventingthe water from escaping and burning the user.

Practically, the access openings 18, 26 and the zip 44 are positionednearer a first operatively top end 10A of the bag 10, while the secondpocket 30 is positioned nearer a second operatively bottom end 10Bthereof.

The bag 10 further comprises first and second opposing sides 10C, 10D,extending between the respective opposing first and second ends 10A,10B, each defining tertiary access openings 32 providing access into thesecond pocket 30.

The bag 10 includes an adjustable strap 34 for securing the bag 10 tothe body 300 of the user in a sling-type fashion, with the adjustablestrap 34 passing over one shoulder and returning to the bag 10 via theopposite hip. It will be appreciated that sling system is easy to bothput on and take off, especially in an emergency where, for example, thehot water bottle ruptures.

The adjustable strap 34 comprises opposing first and second ends 36, 38.The first end 36 of the adjustable strap 34 extends from the first end10A of the bag 10, with the second end 38 of the strap extending fromone of the first or the second opposing sides 10C, 10D of the bag 10,preferably at a location there along nearer the second end 10D thereof.

A tertiary pocket located on the adjustable strap 34 is accessible viaanother zip 50. It will be appreciated that the tertiary pocket isplaced on the adjustable strap 34 such that it is positioned remotelyfrom the heat radiating from the heat source 100, thereby to preventdamage to objects (such as a cell phone) that may be stored therein.

With reference to FIG. 5, the bag 10 further includes a secondary strap52 for further securing the bag to the body 300 of the user,particularly in the event of the user bending over or rotating rapidly.The secondary strap 52 has a first end, extending from near the side 10Cof the bag 10 from which the second end 38 of the adjustable strap 34extends, and a second end, extending from the side 10D of the bag 10opposite the side 10C from which the second end 38 of the adjustablestrap 34 extends.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications or variationsof the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention.

For example, the first and second water impermeable layers 14, 16 may bemade from a waterproof, breathable polyurethane laminated fabric with athickness of about 2 millimetres.

The first and second heat reflecting and/or insulting layers 20, 22 maybe made from a breathable polyester based fabric, the polyester fibresthereof being needle punched through a non-woven substrate and through areflective metalized poly film. Preferably, the polyester based fabric22C is laminated on both sides with a material 22D, 22E restrictingmigration of polyester fibres outwardly towards the first and the secondouter layers 40, 42.

Generally, the first and the second outer layers 40, 42 may be made froma soft touch, pliable material.

It will also be appreciated that although the layers have been describedand/or illustrated herein as being connected by welding and/orstitching, it will be appreciated that the layers might be made form asheet folded over itself such that at least one edge of the connectedlayers are connected across a fold line.

1. A bag including: a primary pocket for receiving a heat sourcetherein, the primary pocket being formed by first and second layers ofwater impermeable material connected to one another along at least aportion of their respective edges thereby to define, along anunconnected portion of the edges, a primary access opening for accessingan interior of the primary pocket; at least a first layer of heatreflecting and/or insulating material lying substantially over the firstwater impermeable layer of the primary pocket for: (i) operativelyreflecting heat radiating from the primary pocket back towards it; and(ii) operatively slowing heat loss from the primary pocket; and asecondary pocket for receiving a user's hands or other object therein,the secondary pocket being located between the first water impermeablelayer and the first heat reflecting and/or insulting layer.
 2. A bagaccording to claim 1 including a second layer of heat reflecting and/orinsulating material lying substantially over the second waterimpermeable layer of the primary pocket such that the first and secondheat reflecting and/or insulting layers jointly envelope the primarypocket therein.
 3. A bag according to claim 2 including a first outerlayer lying substantially over the first heat reflecting and/orinsulting layers, and a second outer layer lying substantially over thesecond heat reflecting and/or insulting layers such that the first andsecond outer layers jointly envelope the first and second heatreflecting and/or insulting layers.
 4. A bag according to claim 3,wherein the edges of the first and second water impermeable layers areconnected to one another along a fold line, or by one of at leastwelding or stitching such edges to one another.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A bagaccording to claim 4, wherein edges of the first and second heatreflecting and/or insulting layers are connected to one another along atleast a portion of their respective edges thereby to form a heatreflecting and/or insulating pouch for receiving the primary pockettherein, the heat reflecting and/or insulating pouch defining alongunconnected edges of the first and second heat reflecting and/orinsulting layers a secondary access opening substantially coincidingwith the primary access opening of the primary pocket, and furtherwherein the primary pocket and the heat reflecting and/or insulatingpouch are connected to one another at least near their respectiveprimary and secondary access openings such that the primary andsecondary access openings jointly form a single common access openinginto the primary pocket.
 7. A bag according to claim 6, wherein edges ofthe first and second outer layers are connected along the connectededges of the heat reflecting and/or insulating pouch.
 8. A bag accordingto claim 7, wherein the connected edges of the heat reflecting and/orinsulating pouch, and the connected edges of the first and second outerlayers, are connected along a fold line or by stitching such edges toone another.
 9. A bag according to claim 8, wherein fastener(s) extendalong, or are spaced along, each of the unconnected edges of the commonaccess opening for enabling the common access opening to be opened andclosed.
 10. A bag according to claim 9, wherein the fasteners are awater-resistant zip, and further wherein the common access opening islocated near a first end of the bag, with the second pocket beinglocated nearer an opposing second end of the bag than to the first endthereof.
 11. A bag according to claim 10, wherein the bag comprisesfirst and second opposing sides extending between the opposing first andsecond ends, and further wherein at least one of the first and/or thesecond opposing sides define a tertiary access opening into the one ormore second pockets.
 12. A bag according to claim 11, wherein the secondpocket is made up of a sleeve extending between each of the tertiaryaccess openings defined on each of the first and the second opposingsides of the bag.
 13. A bag according to claim 12, wherein the bagcomprises an adjustable strap for securing the bag to the body of a usersuch that the first or the second outer layer operatively lies incontact with the body of the user.
 14. A bag according to claim 13,wherein the adjustable strap comprises opposing first and second ends,the first end of the strap extending from the first end of the bag, withthe second end of the strap extending from one of the first or thesecond opposing sides of the bag at a location there along nearer thesecond end of the bag such that the bag is wearable by the user as asling bag.
 15. A bag according to claim 14 including a tertiary pocketlocated on the strap near a first end thereof, the strap defining aquaternary access opening into the tertiary pocket, with quaternaryaccess opening having zip fasteners located along unconnected edgesthereof for opening and closing the quaternary access opening.
 16. A bagaccording to claim 15 including a secondary strap for further securingthe bag to the body of the user, the secondary strap having: (i) a firstend extending from the side of the bag from which the second end of theadjustable strap extends; and (ii) a second end extending from the sideof the bag opposite the side from which the second end of the adjustablestrap extends.
 17. A bag according to claim 16, wherein the heat sourceis from a group of heat sources including chemically orelectromagnetically activated heat pads or packs, chemically orelectromagnetically activated heat bags and hot water bottles.
 18. A bagaccording to claim 17, wherein the first and second water impermeablelayers are made from a waterproof, breathable polyurethane laminatedfabric with a thickness of about 2 millimetres.
 19. A bag according toclaim 18, wherein the first and second heat reflecting and/or insultinglayers are made from a breathable polyester based fabric, the polyesterfibres thereof being needle punched through a non-woven substrate andthrough a reflective metalized poly film.
 20. A bag according to claim19, wherein the polyester based fabric is laminated on both sides with amaterial restricting migration of polyester fibres outwardly towards thefirst and the second outer layers.
 21. A bag according to claim 20,wherein the first and the second outer layers are made from asoft-touch, pliable material, and further wherein the connected edges ofthe first and second water impermeable layers are stitched prior tobeing welded.